A NEW batch of 103 nurses will commence their three-year training course soon at the Georgetown Nursing School.

This was announced yesterday when the Division of Health Sciences Education in the Ministry of Health, conducted the Nurses Orientation Exercise 2013 at Regency Suites Hotel, on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
After being trained for three years, they will become qualified registered nurses, following their qualification in two categories, as nursing assistants and professional nurses.
This group is the second being oriented for this year and they learnt about the rules and protocols they will have to follow. They also got the opportunity to meet their tutors and get an overview of the procedures they would be taught.
Acting Chief Nursing Officer, Debra Henry, who made remarks on the occasion, observed that there needs to be more males coming into the nursing profession.
She noted that, for a number of years, females have been dominating the profession and she hopes that can change soon and more males would become part of the “wonderful profession.”
Henry told the trainees they are special because they were chosen from “tons of applications” and advised, them that nursing is not only caring for the patient but it also entails teaching, counselling, managing and leadership.

REMAIN LOYAL
“You have to have skills, motivation and dedication when caring for patients,” she cautioned them, adding that, no matter what, they have to remain loyal to their profession and honest and earn respect.
Meanwhile, delivering the feature address was Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who noted that it was always on his agenda to have more trained nurses in the sector.
He told those assembled for the purpose that talks will be held with the various officials towards raising, the stipends of trainees, which is currently $18,000 per month for each nurse.
Ramsaran said that amount of money is not much and, therefore, needs to be raised because there are things which the nurses have to do.
He urged the parents and guardians of the trainees present to support their children, noting that, apart from the tutors, they need encouragement at home, as well.
Yesterday, too, there were annotations from the Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, Mr. Leslie Cadogan and Director of Health Services, Mr. Wilton Benn.